Hydraulic corn silker



May 31, 1938. F. D. CHAPMAN 2,119,006

HYDRAULIC CORN SILKER Filed Sept. 25, 1 936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY May 31, 1938. F. D M N I 2,119,006

HYDRAULIC CORN SILKER Filed Sept. 23, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /9 x mm. INVENTOR.

BY 6% W Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE HYDRAULIC CORN SILKER Frank D. Chapman, Berlin, Wis.

Application September 23, 1936, Serial No. 102,106

4 Claims.

system which is simple in construction, yet highly efficient and automatic in operation.

In my prior application Serial No. 34,740, filed August 5, 1935, I have shown and described an improved hydraulic transporting system for legumes such as peas or the like, wherein the conveying liquid is delivered over an annular dam to the inlet side of a transporting pump, and the solids are deposited within the dam and are mixed with the liquid as it flows toward the pump inlet, the mixture being subsequently forced through a conducting pipe or conduit. The basin for supplying the liquid to the annular dam, is quite extensive and has large surface area, and it has been found in actual omration that when 5 the pump is operating at a desirable speed for conveying purposes, the surface liquid in the basin travels quite rapidly and has sufiicient surface tension to sustain material such as corn silk and fragments of husk having relatively light weight, for a considerable length of time.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention, to provide an improved system involving some of the principles of my prior hydraulic conveyor, for effectively removing silk and fragments or pieces of husk, from seed such as corn kernels.

Another specific object of my present invention is to provide a new and useful hydraulic cornsilker which eliminates necessity of providing movable tines and other complicated and unsanitary mechanisms such as are customarily employed in silking apparatus.

A further specific object of my present invention is to provide a combined corn silking, washing and conveying system which simultaneously performs all three of these functions in a most effective and sanitary manner.

Still another specific object of my present .invention is the provision of a corn silking system which is thoroughly reliable and automatic in operation, and which is operable with minimum power and may be readily converted to other uses.

These and other specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the several improved features constituting the present invention, and of the mode of operating the improved corn silking system, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l of one of my improved corn silking systems, with the supply chute omitted;

Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation of the assemblage shown in Fig. 1;

is a somewhat diagrammatic top view Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the liquid supply and silk removing portion of the improved apparatus, taken along the irregular line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged transverse vertical section through the same portion of the assemblage, taken along the irregular line 4-4 of Fig. 6 is a further enlarged somewhat diagrammatic section similar to that of Fig. 4, showing the normal action of the improved separating device.

While the invention has been shown and describedherein as being applied specifically in a system for effecting the removal of silk and husk particles from whole grain corn, it is not the intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope.

Referring to the drawings, the improved hydraulic separating and conveying system shown therein by way of illustration, comprises in general a rotary trash pump 8 having an axially directed horizontal inlet in open communication with the lower constricted end of a vertical funnel 9 and also having an upwardly directed peripheral discharge communicating directly with an elongated conveying conduit 10; a rather extensive and relatively shallow liquid supply basin H for delivering liquid such as water into the upper open end of the funnel 9 over an annular ridge or dam l2; a mixed material supply chute I3 for depositing a mixture of corn silk and kernels by gravity into the basin ll above the funnel 9; an adjustable silk and husk fragment removing weir l4 associated with a wall of the basin I I closely adjacent to the funnel 9; a rotary relatively coarse screen l5 for receiving the mixture of conveying liquid and corn from the discharge end of the transporting conduit l0 and for subjecting the corn to a washing or rinsing action r the inclined surface thereof.

prior to removal thereof from the conveying liquid; a return pipe l6 for conducting the rinsing and conveying liquid toward the basin H and a rotary relatively fine separating screen ll for finally removing silk and other debris from the liquid prior to final return thereof to the basin I l.

The rotor of the pump 8 may be driven from any suitable source of power such as a motor [8 which may also be drivingly connected to the screens I5, I? in a well known manner, and this pump is preferably of the open impeller type having large, smooth and unobstructed passages which will not damage the corn and will not clog readily. The axial pump inlet is also free from obstructions, and the cone or funnel 9 may either be free from obstructions as shown, or may be provided with whirl preventing radial vanes along The level of the liquid within the enlarged supply basin I l is preferably maintained well above the crest of the dam l2 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6 by means of the vertically adjustable weir l4, and the basin ll may be provided with a side chute [9 for receiving the spillage liquid and separated silk delivered over the weir I4. The tank or basin H is also provided with a float controlled fresh water supply pipe 20 preferably located some distance away from the funnel 9, and has a drain pipe 2i at the lowest portion thereof for effecting complete removal of the liquid when the system is inactive. During such drainage, the normally upright external end of the pipe 2| may be swung downwardly beyond horizontal position about the common horizontal axis of the two lower elbows, thus permitting complete drainage in an obvious manner.

The pump discharge and the conveying conduit 10 are also internally smooth and free from obstructions, and the upper coarse screen I5 within which the transporting pipe terminates, is rotatably supported in slightly inclined condition, by means of roller supports 22. The screen I5 is revolvable in any suitable manner to cause the admitted solids to roll across and along the bottom thereof, and a stationary spray pipe 23 extends along the interior of this screen above the rolling material and serves to constantly precipitate fresh rinsing liquid over the solids. The lower end of the inclined screen 15 is open and communicates with a chute 24 for receiving the washed solids or corn, and the conveying and rinsing liquid which passes through the screen drops into a receptacle 25 disposed directly beneath the screen IS.

The upper end of the liquid return pipe l6 communicates directly with the lower end of the receptacle 25, and the opposite lower end thereof communicates with the interior of the lower fine screen I! which is revolvably mounted upon supporting rollers 26 and may be driven in any convenient manner. The interior of the lower screen as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a helical flight 21 and with elevating vanes 28 at the delivery end of the flight 21. The flight 21 is formed to automatically convey any corn silk or debris which has passed through the pump 8 and which has been removed from the corn kernels in the screen 15, toward the end vanes 28 when the screen ll revolves; and the vanes 28 are formed to collect, elevate and deliver these particles through an end discharge cone 29 upon a delivery chute 39. The separated clean liquid which passes through the screen i! drops directly into the basin H and the fresh liquid admitted to the circulating system from the spray pipe 23 may be regulated to control the normal flow over the silk separating weir 14.

During normal operation of the improved hydraulic conveyor and corn silk remover, the system is being supplied with fresh liquid, when necessary, through the supply pipe 20, and with regulated quantities of fresh liquid through the spray pipe 23, and the pump 8 is operating to continuously remove liquid from the basin H over the dam l2 and through the funnel 9, and

forces this liquid through the conveyingconduit H3 into the upper revolving screen i5. The mixture of corn and silk is being delivered.- along the supply chute l3 and drops by gravity into the basin H directly above the funnel 9 as illustrated in Fig. 6. As this mixture is deposited upon the surface of the liquid in the basin l I, it causes a turbulence and the corn kernels drop through the liquid and are mixed therewith and conveyed to the pump 8 through the funnel 9. The lighter particles of silk and pieces of corn husk which are unable to break the surface tension of the liquid in the basin H, are carried by the constantly flowing stream of excess liquid directly over the weir l4 and are discharged along the chute I9. Thus, particles of corn silk and debris which succeeded in passing to the pump with the corn kernels, are subsequently transported through the pipe 10 and are delivered into the re volving screen I5. Here the kernels of corn are given a thorough rinsing by the spray delivered by the pipe 23, and the residual silk particles are washed therefrom and pass into the reservoir 25 with the separated liquid. The finally washed corn is discharged over the chute 24 at the end of the incline drum l5, and the separated liquid together with the debris, is delivered into the lower screen I! where the residual corn silk and debris are removed and discharged over the chute 30. The separated liquid which drops from the lower screen I! replenishes the supply of liquid in the basin 5 I and is ultimately recirculated or discharged over the weir 14. In this manner, it will be apparent, that the silk fibers and the lighter particles of corn husk are effectively removed from the whole grain corn, the corn kernels being automatically removed and conveyed to the upper screen l5 from whence they may be delivered to any convenient point.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that the present invention provides an improved corn silk removing system and corn washing system, which is highly effective and automatic in its operation. The aparatus is moreover readily accessible for inspection and cleaning, at all times, and when the pump 8 is stopped, the liquid may be readily removed from the system for cleaning purposes. It has beenfound, in actual practice, that surface tension of the liquid in the relatively large basin ll, effectively removes the major portion of the corn silk fibers before the kernels are delivered to the hydraulic conveying system, and that substantially all of the silk is ultimately removed from the corn in the upper screen 15. By recirculating the liquid separated from the corn in the screen Hi, the apparatus may be operated with minimum waste of liquid, and the head of liquid within the basin H may be readily varied by merely adjusting the weir l4 and by controlling the admission of liquid through the pipe 23. The system is not only extremely simple in its general assemblage, but may also be used merely for hydraulic washing and conveying purposes, by merely elevating the weir l4 and by adjusting the drain pipe 2| to serve as an overflow for maintaining proper level of the liquid in the basin l8. The improved system has proven highly efficient in actual use and can be installed and operated at moderate cost.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A hydraulic corn silking system comprising, means forming a liquid basin having extensive surface area, a wier providing a restricted liquid overflow at one side of said basin, means for admitting fresh liquid to a widened portion of said basin remote from said wier to produce rapidly increasing flow of surface liquid fro-m said basin toward said wier, an upwardly diverging cone communicating with said basin between said liquid admission means and said wier and be neath the rapidly flowing surface liquid passing over said wier, means for delivering mixed silk and corn into said surface liquid directly above said cone and adjacent to said wier, and means for constantly withdrawing a mixture of liquid and corn from the bottom of said cone.

2. A hydraulic corn silking system comprising, means forming a shallow liquid basin having extensive surface area, a wier providing a restricted overflow for surface liquid delivered from said basin, means for admitting fresh liquid to said basin remote from said wier to produce rapidly increasing flow of surface liquid from said basin as said liquid approaches said wier, an upwardly open downwardly diverging cone communicating with said basin adjacent to said wier and remote from said liquid admission means, means for depositing mixed silk and corn upon said rapidly advancing surface liquid directly above said cone, and means for constantly withdrawing a mixture of liquid and corn from the constricted end of said cone.

3. A hydraulic corn silking system comprising, means forming a liquid basin having extensive surface area, a wier providing a restricted liquid overflow at one side of said basin, means for admitting fresh liquid to a widened portion of said basin remote from said wier to produce rapidly increasing flow of surface liquid from said basin toward said wier, an upwardly diverging cone communicating with said basin between said liquid admission means and said wier and beneath the rapidly flowing surface liquid passing over said wier, said cone having an annular wall extending upwardly therefrom into said basin and toward said surface liquid, means for delivering mixed silk and corn into said surface liquid centrally within said wall directly above said cone and adjacent to said wier, and means for removing a mixture of liquid and corn from the lower portion of said cone.

4. A hydraulic corn silking system comprising, means forming a shallow liquid basin having extensive surface area, a wicr providing a restricted overflow for surface liquid delivered from said basin, means for admitting fresh liquid to said basin remote from said wier to produce rapidly increasing flow of surface liquid from said basin as said liquid approaches said wier, an upwardly open downwardly diverging cone communicating with said basin adjacent to-said wier and remote from said liquid admission means, said cone having an annular wall extending upwardly therefrom into said basin and toward said surface liquid, means fordepositing mixed silk and corn upon said rapidly advancing surface liquid within said wall and directly above said cone. and means for constantly removing liquid and corn from. the lower portion of said cone.

FRANK D. CHAPMAN. 

